Moving our great discoveries to the private sector.
Colorado's universities and research facilities are turning ideas into discoveries and making medical breakthroughs with significant worldwide impact. Several companies across a variety of industries have gotten their start as a result of tech transfer activities at area universities.
Colorado ranks No. 4 among states that generated the most economic activity per dollar of funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The University of Colorado at Boulder received over $266 million in sponsored research awards in 2007. The NIH awarded much of this funding, placing the medical center among the top public health sciences centers in NIH funding. The University of Denver received nearly $16 million in 2006. The Colorado School of Mines received over $44 million and Colorado State University received over $296 million in 2007.
Cutting-edge research at Colorado universities
- Researchers at CU-Boulder have discovered an anti-body in human blood that can predict who is predisposed to type 1 diabetes, a breakthrough that could lead to the elimination of the disease.
- Colorado State University's Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology (MIP) has developed a novel vaccine to prevent tuberculosis, one of the world's most deadly diseases.
- The School of Medicine at the University of Colorado Denver established the Charles C. Gates Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Biology Program, to conduct cutting-edge research that could lead to cures for various debilitating diseases.
Research and tech transfer at Colorado universities and hospitals
- The Colorado School of Mines (CSM) in Golden, one the few universities in the world to offer education from baccalaureate through doctorate levels in all key fields related to energy, is regarded internationally for its research institutes. CSM's Office of Technology Transfer manages the patenting and licensing of intellectual property developed at CSM.
- Colorado State University in Fort Collins is at the forefront of research and technology transfer in agricultural sciences, biomedical sciences, engineering, the environment, information technology, and nutrition and human health. The Office of Technology Transfer facilitates transition of university research from the laboratory to the marketplace.
- National Jewish Health in Denver is the nation's top respiratory hospital (U.S. News and World Report). Its Intellectual Property and Technology Commercialization Program facilitates business partnerships for technology licensing and commercialization.
- The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is the nation's primary laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency R&D. The NRELTechnology Transfer Team works with private and public sector agencies to move NREL-developed technologies and expertise into commercially viable products and businesses.
- University of Colorado (CU-Boulder) has a myriad of institutes, centers, and laboratories in space sciences, bioscience, physical sciences/engineering, and natural sciences. Researchers at the University of Colorado Denver, Colorado's largest research and professional education university, are conducting ground-breaking research at its Anschutz Medical Campus. CU's Technology Transfer Office works to turn university research into patentable intellectual property and marketable business opportunities.
- The Eleanor Roosevelt Institute (ERI) at the University of Denver (DU) conducts basic biomedical research that may lead to new therapies for Down syndrome, ALS, cancer, autism, diabetes, and obesity. Researchers at ERI collaborate with DU scientists and students to strengthen the University’s expanding life science initiative.